Apple, Google Shuttle Buses Attacked, Windows Broken

Several buses carrying Apple and Google employees were attacked in recent days.

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SFGate reports that four buses chartered by Apple and one by Google to transport employees to and from work were attacked on California's Highway 280 outside of San Francisco on Tuesday, while occupied and in motion, possibly by pellet guns or rocks. Windows of the buses were shattered and knocked out, but no injuries were reported. Those incidents follow a similar attack on an Apple bus on Friday.

At this point, it's unclear who is behind the attacks. A spokesperson with the California Highway Patrol told SFGate that the buses didn't have company logos on the outside. "It appears that they're going after the unmarked tech buses," CHP spokesman Officer Art Montiel told the newspaper.

Apple is now reportedly rerouting its employee buses as a result of the incident, a move that will add a significant amount of time to workers' commutes.

"Due to recent incidents of broken windows along the commute route, specifically on highway 280, we're re-routing coaches for the time being," Apple wrote in a Tuesday email to employees. "This change in routes could mean an additional 30-45 minutes of commute time in each direction for some riders."

The email, which was obtained by Mashable, went on to say that Apple is "working closely with law enforcement to investigate these incidents."

Buses chartered by Silicon Valley tech giants like Google, Apple, and Facebook have sparked heated debates and protests in the past, with activists arguing that companies should be fined for picking up employees at city bus stops without paying taxes and disrupting San Francisco public transportation.